Primal Rage Part 3

Ricardo looked in Dave's room with concern. The younger man's car was in the
garage but his gear was gone and so was he. What is this?

"Daddy, what is it?" Caroline asked.

"Dave's gone. Did you see him leave?"

She shook her head. "No, he went to bed as soon as we came back. What's going
on?"

"I was hoping you could tell me," he said, looking for answers.

If only I understood the whole thing myself.
"It was just as we told you.
Dave had a rough trip, but I don't know where he is." Although I can imagine
where he's going.

"I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid is all," her father declared.

"I think we're in agreement on that," Jeannie concurred, coming down the
hall.

"What now?" Charles inquired.

"Dave's gone," his mother replied.

Charles shook his head. He's gone after Karen. "Can we have his car located
or something?"

"It's in the garage but he's gone," Caroline noted. "I guess we wait for
news."

And hope he doesn't get himself in more trouble.
Ricardo shook his head,
thinking about his daughter and the determined boarder. Something told him that
this was going to be a day to remember-for all of the wrong reasons.

****

[Moscow-Party Hotel, Red Square]

Karen gazed out the window at the gathering dusk. For the most part, her
captors had left her alone that day. They're busy planning their next move, I'd
imagine. Focusing with her senses, she could feel Dave's aura in the distance,
gradually becoming stronger. He's coming. Of course he is. Do you think he'd let
you rot here? Then she heard a knock at the door and saw it open.

"Miss Alvarez, do you have a moment?" the blonde Super Soldier, Darkstar,
wondered as she entered the room.

"It's not like I can say no," Karen retorted.

"I would hope you can help us avoid bloodshed," Darkstar stated.

"How? By convincing my family to come here? By telling my boyfriend to back
off? Neither's going to happen. You shouldn't have kidnapped me in the first
place," Karen retorted grimly.

"I don't like what they're doing to you, you know," the Soviet agent told
her.

"Then do something! Help me to escape!" Karen requested. "Darkstar, right?"
Seeing the other nod, she continued, "Why are you helping them to do this to my
family?"

"I lived in America for a while and was happy. I know what you talk about,
but there is something called duty. I do mine for the Party."

"No questions asked? No matter how wrong it is? Lady, this is slavery, all
right?" Karen countered.

Darkstar's face turned red and she was lost for words.

"Be careful, Darkstar, they're listening, you know," the military-looking
agent told her while entering the room.

"Ursa Major, I'm not doing anything out of line. Still, don't you ever wonder
if we are doing the right thing?" Darkstar countered.

"We have a job to do," Ursus argued. "No more, no less. We need to get her
family back here. Let Dubois come. He's no threat to us."

Karen rolled her eyes, as another dark wave crashed across her psyche.
Yeah
right. But what is going on with you, Dave? I know it's you but there's a
different aura from you. It's so dark and angryü.

Suddenly, the alarms went off around the building.

"What?" Darkstar asked.

Then a loud crash echoed up from Red Square followed by a piercing scream.

Both hostage and agents looked out the window at a chilling sight. Two planes
and several tanks lay ruined, twisted and contorted like used sardine cans.
Worse still, in the midst of the carnage, a single figure bellowed his fury at
them.

The Child had arrived. He was ready to take his friend back and damn the
consequences.

Chapter 17 [Moscow city limits-Minutes earlier]

Dave reappeared from the portal just outside of Moscow. Not knowing what to
expect, he surveyed the airspace around himself. For now, everything seemed
normal. Still, he knew that wouldn't last. They'll be sending a reception
committee any minute. Find Karen, Dummy, before they find you. He focused,
extending his abilities in a sweep of the city before finally getting a fix on
his girlfriend. Gotcha. "Come on, Streaker, left!"

The horse complied, eager to get the business at hand finished. He neighed
loudly at something.

"What is it?" Dave asked before seeing for himself. Two MiG fighters
approached on the late afternoon wind. You have to let them take the first shot.

A minute later, the two fighters fired their cruise missiles at him.

"You've got to be kidding!" the young man hissed, pulling up on the reins and
sending his horse on a flight straight up, trying to draw the missiles away from
the city below. As he climbed, he tried to form an energy shield to serve as a
protective force field and to preserve their air supply.

The chase forced things past the point of no return. About 15,000 feet
higher, the missiles continued to gain before finally imploding against the
field. Streaker lost his balance momentarily before righting himself. Worse
though, Dave took a piece of shrapnel in the arm. The hot metal scorched his
left arm and cracked the bone. He ground his teeth, feeling the numbness claim
him again.

Having borne him into battle previously, the horse knew better than he did
what was happening and stayed the course.

"Now Ah'm pissed!" the Child announced. " 'Mon, lesgo!" With that, he flew
straight down at his oppressors like an angry swarm of bees determined to teach
an intruder a lesson. As the planes came into view, he released the reins and
allowed his hands to glow. "Yer turn, buttwipes!" Firing twin pulses, he took
out both fighters with one shot.

As the planes exploded, they sent a deadly hail down on the city.
Fortunately, the civil defense sirens had already cleared the square of
onlookers, so nobody was hurt.

"Down!" the Child commanded.

Streaker landed in the square right in sight of the gathering troops.

In front of them, a hundred soldiers and four tanks advanced on them.

"Git!" the Dark One told his friend, dismounting and slapping the other's
side as gently as he could manage.

One of the Soviet commanders spoke into his megaphone. "Comrade Dubois, as
much as we admire your dedication, you have fired on Soviet forces and are under
arrest! Come along quietly!"

"Ah ain't Comrade! 'Sides, ya'll hit me first, scum ass!" the Child retorted.
His eyes smoldered, letting the brown-clad wall of humanity in front of him see
the anger there. "Move it or lose it!"

"Fire!" the commander ordered.

The troops fired their machine guns at the intruder as one.

The Child focused, allowing the hail to scatter without touching him. "Ya'll
shouldn't have done that!" Allowing his left eye to glow, he emitted a powerful
pulse, bowling the whole Soviet force over like so many pins. "Stay down!"
Turning on the tanks, he picked them up one by one, flipping them over. Seeing
the drivers scramble out, he roared another challenge. "NOW GIT! WHERE IS SHE?
BRING 'ER OR AH'M REALLY GONNA GIT PISSED!!!"

****

[Kremlin]

The Premier shook his head. He thought that his small force would have
dispensed with the American. Now the Super Soldiers will have to deal with him.
Speaking into his desk speaker, he commanded, "Comrades, move to intercept the
intruder."

****

Meantime, two floors above, a short man observed the developing scene and
fighting a sense of deja-vu. The former scientist and spy had seen his share of
action in the field, but now, preferred to do his strategizing behind the
scenes. Scratching his enlarged grey head, the Gremlin observed the whole affair
with disdain. Just when I tried to use Betty Ross against the Hulk. I warned the
others that this would happen.

Turning, he saw a man strut into the room with loud clangs from his red
armor. "Crimson Dynamo, what is it?"

"They have summoned us. Put on your armor and come with me," the Dynamo
replied. "Why aren't you in it already?"

"I was watching this whole distasteful affair outside," the Gremlin spat as
he walked over to the emerald Titanium Man armor and climbed into it. "I'd
rather not fight him. It will only end badly for us."

"We are five! He is one! We shall win, Comrade Gremlin!" the Dynamo
protested.

"So was the Hulk. This one is at least as powerful. He just dispensed with
the city's troops in under five minutes," his teammate noted, powering up the
armor. As the twin "eyes" lit up, the Titanium Man turned and asked, "Are the
others ready?"

"We are to engage the enemy second. Darkstar and Vanguard are already moving
into position. Ursa Major is staying with the prisoner," the Dynamo informed
him. Seeing Darkstar flying overhead with her brother in tow, he added, "It's
started."

The emerald one opened the window and streaked off in pursuit.
May we stop
this madness before anyone really gets hurt.

****

Darkstar let her companion drop to the ground as she took her first look at
the enraged Child. "What is this?"

But this time, the Child was wise to his gambit. "Do that without yer toys,
Bud." Using telekinesis, he ripped the other's weapons from his hands. Then he
knocked the other out with another pulse. "Thought so! Stay down!"

"Vanguard!" Darkstar exclaimed with concern. A rush of anger coursed through
her as she made her way to his side. Thankfully, he's still breathing. This ends
now! "I don't want to do this, but you leave me with no choice!" She pointed at
the Child, enveloping him in a bubble of her darkforce. "That should hold you!"

Within the bubble, the Child roared, feeling the cold and dark trap him. In
his mind's eye, he was back in Rowenshire being abused by the witch once again.
"Not 'gain!" he hissed. Feeling his resentment growing, he touched the side of
the prison.

And then he felt a surge of strength from the darkness.

"What the Hell?" the Child wondered. After a few more touches, he realized
that this darkness strengthened him just as the dark magic from his former home
had created him. "Time to eat!" He relaxed, allowing the darkness to flow into
him, strengthening him and flooding him with power.

Outside, the field began to dissipate.

"What?" Darkstar wondered, feeling the assault against her powers. "How can
he be doing this?"

Her armored comrades landed at her side. "What is this?"

"He'süconsumingüthe darkforce," she gasped. "Somehow, he's feeding off of
it."

At that moment, the bubble disappeared, allowing the trio to see the Child,
now glowing with a dark red aura, standing there with a ghastly leer on his
face. "Ahhüthat was good! Now, Sweets, try this!" He wheeled and fired a dark
burst-not a pulse but dark fire of some kind-hitting her square and knocking her
out.

The Titanium Man did the same. Reluctance aside, he wasn't about to let this
one hurt his teammates.

The Child sopped up the blasts without as much as a flinch. Then he returned
fire with the two armored adversaries' energy, knocking them both out of
commission. "Git!" Seeing no one else to oppose him, he stalked off, looking for
his friend. Following his impressions, he quickly found the Party Hotel and
entered it.

A dozen police officers waited for him in riot gear.

"Jackasses!" the Child growled, telekinetically brushing them aside. "WHERE
IS SHE? GIVE 'ER TO ME!" Feeling her presence, he ran toward the stairwell and
looked up. "There!" Concentrating, he lifted himself, levitating up through the
space until he reached the desired floor.

"KARüEN, WHERE ARE YA?"

"Dave, stop," she called as she appeared with Ursa Major.

"Na Big Bro! Quit it!" he bellowed.

"Stop this or you both die," the bear-mutant commanded.

"Hidin' behind a girl an' makin' threats. Ya're cute," the Child snickered
darkly. With a wave of his hand, he ripped Karen from the other's arms and set
her down behind him.

For several minutes, she sat there, curled up in a fetal position at the
sight of him. Finally, she managed to collect herself enough to nod nervously,
choosing to trust whatever he had changed into over the kidnappers. "Jüjust
don't hurt me."

He felt a tear on his cheek. "What the? Hey, Ah would never hurt ya'll.
Chill!" Walking over to the window, he whistled loudly into the night sky.

In response, Streaker reappeared over the rooftops, quickly making his way
for the hotel and landing on the roof just above them.

"Since when can Streaker fly?" she wondered, her eyes bulging at the sight.

"Since now. 'Mon!" he told her, pulling her toward the stairs and up to the
roof. There they found Streaker waiting for them.

She climbed up on the horse's back and looked at him. "We're really going to
fly out of here?"

"Yeah," he replied tersely, getting on in front of her. "Ah hope the Russkies
stay outta our way!" Then he saw a woman step into view. She had strawberry
blonde hair, a thin yet sturdy build, and piercing blue eyes. "'Nother one?"

The woman replied curtly, "I am not one of those fools, Dubois. My name is
Roxilana and you might say I'm important here. You accounted well for yourself."

"Yer one of Nickie-boy's friends, ain'tcha?" the Child asked.

"Indeed. And you must keep our secret as well," Roxilana continued, allowing
her eyes to glow briefly at the two mortals. "Go now with my blessing, as well
as the larger vampire community's. Soon, you and Dijon will meet and your
business is your own."

"Keep 'im away if yer smart," he concluded. "Yah! Let's go!"

With that, Streaker took three strides and took off into the darkness over
the ancient city.

Roxilana watched the duo fly away and concurred to herself.
I agree. Dijon
will cause the Community more harm by pursuing him. Now to assure Nicolas and LaCroix about this situation.

****

"How do we get home?" she asked.

"Watch," he told her.

Then the portal appeared in front of them.

A mist portal? This is the Empress' work! She gaped at the realization that
the Elf Queen had involved herself in this matter. As they hit the mists, she
felt strange for a minute almost as if she were out of place. A minute later,
she saw the smoke clear to reveal the familiar Atlantic coastline beneath them.
"How?"

The Child said nothing as they landed in her parents' backyard.

She slid off quickly. Taking a look at Dave in this state terrified her
beyond words. Granted, she knew it wasn't his fault, but he was no longer the
man she cared about. I can'tü. She ran into the house, seeking safety.

"Yer all scared of me! That pisses me off, awright? Face it, Ah'm a
thingüjust a thing!" he yelled before running into the garage and driving off in
the Subaru.

"Where's he going? We have to go after him!" Charles stated.

Caroline shook her head. "Not until later. I think I know where he'll end up.
Let's go talk with Karen, Mom, and Daddy first. Then we can go after him."

Her brother followed reluctantly, torn between his sisters and his friend.
Dave, I'm coming after you. You shouldn't have to be alone, not after what
you've been through.

Chapter 18 [Toronto-Raven: Late afternoon that day]

Despite the hour, Nick had remained at the Raven, waiting for news from the
USSR. Thanks to the vampire community's connections and the efforts of Roxilana
and Don Constantine, the media had been kept away from the battle while it raged
on. "This will expose him and ultimately us," he worried.

"It could," LaCroix clarified. "However, our brethren have seen to it that
there are no records of the incident. Somehow, the wreckage has disappeared as
have the locals' memories. Amazing."

"That is what happened," Janette reported. "I just heard from Roxilana.
Everything is set. Dubois has rescued the girl and vanished into thin air."

"More magic, Nicholas?" the Roman wondered.

"Anything's possible," the former Crusader supposed. Seeing that the sun had
set, he made his way up the stairs. "I'll see you both soon." As he walked out,
he looked toward the southeast. Somehow, I know we'll run into him again. David,
may you have the strength you need to live with your curse. With that, he
climbed into the Caddy and drove toward the Loft to change before his shift.

Chapter 19 [Amherst]

April McKenzie sat in her living room wondering about her friends. For most
of that day, she had waited by the phone, waiting for word. First, Karen
disappears. Then Dave and Garth vanish. What's going on? And why doesn't anyone
have word from them? She paced about the area, her nerves wrenching her stomach
into knots.

Then she heard a knock from the door.

"Yes?" she asked, looking through the peephole. "Garth!" She opened the door
quickly and ushered him inside. "Come in! What's been going on?"

He took a deep breath. "It's over, April. Dave and Karen made it out of
there."

"She's safe? Have you talked to her?" April demanded.

"No. Let's say I had a direct view of the whole thing," he replied.
And I saw
Dave go berserk in the process. Recalling the prophecy told during their trek to Lousain's fortress, he gulped.
That little creep, Garogli, said as much about
Dave.

"And what happened? What did Dave blow up this time?" she asked, worrying
about the ramifications.

"Oh. He really didn't blow up anything, but those troops won't forget him,"
he reported.

She shrugged. Where Karen's concerned, nobody forgets him. The phone rang and
she answered it. "Hello?"

"Hi, April, it's Karen," Karen replied.

"Karen! My word, it's good to hear from you! Are you all right?" April
inquired enthusiastically.

"We don't know. He scared me with this one, April. Iület it show and he took
off," Karen noted, breaking down at the end.

"Karen, it's okay. We'll keep an eye out for him if he shows up here. Do you
want me to give him a message?" April tried to assure her.

"That's okay. I need to tell him something about our relationship. April, we
can't date anymore. I can't deal with him like this," Karen admitted, fighting
to get the words out between sobs.

"What did he do? Did he hurt you?"

"No, he didn't touch me. But IüI can't deal with this anymore. My parents and
Caroline just left for Amherst. Sorry, but I can't talk about it. Have my
parents call me when they get there. Thanks," Karen concluded, hanging up.

"What the heck? April, what's wrong?" he asked.

"Dave did something to spook her. She wants to break up with him. Now we know
why he took off," she said, trying to wrap her head around the whole situation.

After everything, she's breaking up with him. "I'm going to check on
something. Be back."

She watched him leave. Find him, Garth. Dave, don't do anything rash.

****

[Amherst Cemetery-Twenty minutes later]

The Child hissed in disgust as he looked around at the empty graveyard.
Finally, he stopped in front of the combined Dubois/Alvaro stone and kneeled in
front of it. "Hey. It's us. We got 'er back. But she doesn't like us anymore. Ah
can't live there anymore. This really sucks! Ah didn't ask fer this!" he ranted.

Only a slight breeze answered him.

"Why? DAMN IT! Why? What did Ah do?" he yelled, the tears streaming down his
face. He screamed his agony to the sky before breaking down completely.

"The witch," Caroline asserted. When the others turned to her, she continued,
"Last night, while we were in Rowenshire, he changed. According to that friend
of his grandfather's, Dr. O' Connor, she cursed him."

"Can't we just call Father Richard, then?" April asked.

"No," Garth disagreed. "This is too far gone for that. He has to live with
this condition now." I just hope you're right, Grimwilkin.

At that moment, Dave's eyes snapped open and he sat up abruptly. "So cold. So
dark. IüI'm back."

"You are indeed, and you had us all worried sick," April admonished. "That's
quite a wound on your arm."

He looked at the bandaged area. "Yeah. I guess it is. So what about Karen? Is
she okay?"

They looked at him. "What do you mean? You brought her home and you don't
remember?"

"The last thing I remember is that missile exploding and getting hit by the
shrapnel in Moscow. After that, it's a blank," Dave admitted.

"I don't remember anything. I just know that Karen's hurting over something
right now. I should go talk to her," Dave realized.

"No, Dave," Caroline disagreed. "That's not a good idea."

"Why? What is it?" Dave asked, staring at her. "What did I do to her? Did I
hurt her?"

"No, but you scared her somehow. She still won't talk about it," Caroline
revealed.

"Great. Well I guess I should clear my things out and find another place,"
Dave presumed.

"You are going to do nothing of the kind," Ricardo admonished. "Dave, you may
have problems, but you have earned your place in that house. I think it's best
that you start on your Ph D. and move on with your life, but you'll always be a
part of the family."

"Give Karen time, all right?" Jeannie requested. "She has to move on too.
Meantime, your home is with us and don't forget that."

"Move on? Did we break up or something? Oh man, not this!" Dave protested.

"You said as much when I found you in the cemetery," Garth pointed out.

"This is for you," Caroline declared, handing Dave a folded note. "Karen
wanted to tell you this, but couldn't do it in person. For what it's worth, I'm
sorry."

Dave opened the note and read the words, feeling them cut his heart. They
said:

Dear Dave,

I never thought I would have to write something like this message. They say
that love is forever. I guess it is. I appreciate that you came after me today
as you always do when I'm in trouble. That hero streak in you is endearing and
it makes what I have to say all the harder for me.

We can't be together anymore.

Today, I saw the darkness rise in you. It was scary, wicked, and wild. It's
like you were someone else. I can't deal with that, not knowing if it's really
you I'm with or that thing. I know you're asking yourself what I mean. The thing
I mean is that Voice I heard; the one that came to life in the hospital back in
Smallville. I guess it's finally developed.

I've asked my parents to let you stay with them, as if I needed to do so. You
need them, Dave, as well as Charles and Caroline. You need our friends both here
and in Tucson. You need stability. And everyone needs you too. You're a source
of strength for us. Now it's their turn to be there for you.

Please, please understand, I don't hate you. I could never do that. You're a
part of me. I will always treasure our relationship. I will always care for you,
but I can't deal with what you're becoming and for that I'm sorry.

Be safe, well, and happy always, My Love.

Best wishes always.

Karen

Dave bowed his head as he rode the wave of consternation. "What is this? Why
is this happening now? Why?" He released his rage in one giant scream, startling
everyone in the room.

Not again. "Dave, stop, it's okay." April tried to console him. "I'm sure
Karen had her reasons for this."

"Ya'll think so?" the Child chortled, emerging again and staring at them all.
"Look at us. We didn't ask fer this!"

"There are now two in there," Caroline replied to everyone, caressing the
sleeping man-child's brow and wiping his tears. "And he won't hurt us."

Her parents looked at each other. This new state of affairs was going to take
some getting used to. However, for Dave's sake, they affirmed their decision to
stay the course. He wouldn't have to go through this dark hell by himself, no
matter the consequences for them all. They owed him that much.